Trio of knife law reform bills introduced in state legislatures

Knife Rights is back at work in 2018, looking to improve upon the wildly successful 2017 campaign. They just issued a press release announcing the filing of knife law reform bills in 3 states – Mississippi, Virginia, and Washington.

Mississippi Representative Gary Staples has introduced HB 924, Knife Rights’ bill to to remove “Bowie knife, dirk knife, butcher knife and switchblade knife” from the deadly weapons statutes in Mississippi. We will be working with the sponsor and the committee chair to further improve the bill to the advantage of Mississippi knife owners as it moves through the legislative process.

As soon as it is appropriate, we’ll let you know to contact your legislators

At the request of Knife Rights, Virginia Representative Michael Webert has introduced HB 890 that would allow the possession and carry of switchblade knives with a CCW permit. Given the difficult political situation in Virginia at this time, this bill is not expected to move anytime soon. Filing at this time ensures the bill is in the queue, ready to go. If and when circumstances change, there will be an amendment to improve some troublesome language that was inadvertently included.

As a likely response to the tragic Texas church shootings last November, Senator Ben Chafin introduced SB 372 that would repeal Virginia’s ban on carrying “a gun, pistol, bowie knife, dagger, or other dangerous weapon” to a “place of worship while a meeting for religious purposes is being held.”

Stay tuned and we’ll let you know to contact your legislators if and when appropriate.

Washington Fixed Blade Concealed Carry Bill Introduced

In Washington, HB 2600, a bill to allow concealed carry of “a fixed blade knife having a blade of six inches or less in length,” has been introduced by lead sponsor Representative Morgan Irwin with bipartisan cosponsors. Knife Rights is monitoring this bill and will let you know of any progress and when it’s time to contact your legislators.

This is on top of efforts in several other states, in the courts, and even at the Federal level.